Seized vehicles worth billions to be forfeited to govt – Customs

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operation Unit, Ikeja, Lagos has that the risk owners of vehicles seized in Car Marts at Parkview Estate, Victoria Island, Banana Island and Alhaji Bankole Crescent, Ikeja and Ijebu Ode Expressway in Ogun State may forfeiture such vehicles to the Federal Government except they come forward with documents showing that correct duties were paid on the vehicles before they were imported into the country.

Also goods that were falsely declared by importers and their agents are liable to forfeiture to the government.

Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Mohammed Uba stated yesterday while addressing the press on goods seized between January 1 and 31, 2018 with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1,618,177,661.50.

According to him, about four Roll Royce, one Porche, Panamera, one Jaguar, one Bently, two G Wagon, one Toyota Land Cruiser, five Toyota Corolla, and seven Mercedes Benz all of which are 2017 models were seized during the period under review.

Uba pointed out that the vehicles alone have a Duty Paid Value of Ni,429,953,941.50

“We urge the owners of these vehicles to come forward with valid documents otherwise they will be liable to seizure and subsequent forfeiture to Federal government in line with laws of the land,” he said.

He also disclosed that 8,400 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 1,652 cartons of frozen poultry products, 835 Jerry Cans of Vegetable oil, 10 sacks of Indian Hemp, 2,208 pieces of used tyres and 159 bales of used clothing were seized between January 1 and January 31 this year.

In a similar vein the Controller said that two containers were seized for separately carrying 537 cartons of Indian Whisky as against yeast declared in the Single Goods Declaration (SGD) Form and 60 pieces of used Chest Freezers and 570 bundles of gas hose respectively as against Condenser for steam polysomic.

According to him, in the spirit of inter agency collaboration, the Indian hemp was seized during the period under review will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Comptroller Mohammed decried the attitude of smugglers saying the policy banning the importation of rice and vehicles through the land borders is aimed at protecting the local industries and by extension to create jobs for our teeming youths but that some unscrupulous elements are bent on frustrating government efforts.

He warned smugglers to desist from the act as the Unit is fully prepared to deal with the smugglers in the interest of the Federal government